Aeroplane fuselage jig



Sept. 8, 1931' J. D. BUNCH AEROPLANE FUSELAGE JIG 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7, 1930 MN .N

mie Joel '1). Bane/L Sept. 8, 1931. JhD. BUNCH AEROPLANE FUSELAGE JIG Filed July 7. 19:0

4 Sheets-Sheet I5 Q -0el (1726 Sept. 8, 1931. v 4. D. BUNCH 1,s22,27o

AEROPLANE 'Fiisnman Jm Filed July '1', 1930 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 2 1231 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOEL BANNER BUNCH, OF HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO EARL AVILTOI CORPORATION, LTD OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORZPOBATION OF GALI- I AEIB'OIPII'JAN'E FUSELAGE JIG- Application filed July 7, 1930. I Serial No. 468,171.

This invention relates to aeroplane fuselage constructions, more specifically to ajig for forming a fuselage frame.

In the construction of aeroplane fuselage frames the usual method is to place the longerons and cross members togetheraecording to measurements given, then weld or other-- This pro- 5 ployed in forming a fuselage frame,.whereby j said members may be accurately joined together. Another object of the present'inven tion is to provide a jig of the character stated,

in which the frame is rotatably mounted 20 whereby the same may be tilted'in order to facilitate joinin the members of the fuselage together b welding operations.

Other jects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, refae'erence being had to the accompanying draw-.

in s, in which: v

ig. 1 is atop plan view of the jig showing the fuselage frame disposed thereiiu' Fig. 2 is a side elevation taken in thedirec- 0 tion indicated by the arrow 2 of Fig. '1;' Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the eradles or side members in open position;

Fig. 4. is a side elevation of Fig. 3 taken fin the direction indicated by the arrows of Fl 3' I v I 1 Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken online 5--5 of Fig. 2 in the direction indicated by the arrows; v

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line Fi 9 is a. fragmentary top plan view of the cradle showing a longeron and ,a pair of 50 the cross members mounted thereon;

6-6 of Fig. 2 in the direction indicated by' Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of the cradle, portions of the longerons being broken away to show the means for positionmg the cross pieces; and,

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view taken on line 1111 of Fig. 10.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, 1O designates a base formed of a pair of parallel channels 12 to which are secured at each end thereof standards 1a supporting bearings 15 in horizontal alignment.

Mounted in the bearings 15 are stud shafts 16 projecting from flanged sockets 17 secured to front and rear plates 20 and 22 respectively, between which is disposed a pair of members 23 connected thereto at the lower ends thereof by suitable brackets designated at 24.

Members 23 are preferably formed of angle iron and converge toward the rear plate 22, each of which have an inclined portion forced by cross pieces 26. These members serve to receive and support the cross pieces of the bottom portion of the fuselage fram in a manner later described.

Disposed directly above and lying in substantialiy the same plane as the members 23,

- is another pair of members designated at 28 a mally engages a supporting member 31 secured to the forward plate 20, these members are employed while forming the'topportion of the fuselage frame.

Pivotally connected at each end thereof to the plates-20 and 22 is a pair of cradles designated'at 34 which are employed in forming theside portions of the fuselage frame. Cradles 34.- are of'the'sameconstruction each of which consist'of longitudinal menibers '35 preferably formed "of channel iron and reinforced by a plurality of cross membars 36, the forward ends of themembers are secured to a bar 38 which in'turn is, pivotally connected by a pin'39 to the plate 20, the rear ends thereof being securedto an arm 40 pivotally connected to the plate 22 by a pin 41. The pins 39 and 41 being in designated at 25, the members being reinalignment permit the cradle to be swun inwardly or outwardly during operation the jig as later described.

As previously referred to, the cradles are employed in forming the side portions of the fuselage frame and are provided with a plurality of saddles 42 having recesses 43 formed therein adapted to receive and position the longerons designated at L. The saddles are pivotally connected to the channels and 36 by studs 44 projecting therefrom through apertures formed in one of the side flanges 46, and are held against outward movement by a nut 47, as clearly shown in Fig. 11.

Projecting from the faces of the channels 35 is a plurality of pins 52 which serve to position the cross members C of the side portions of the frame, and a plurality of similar pins also project from the members employed in forming the top and hottom portions of the fuselage frame.

In constructing a fuselage frame with the improved jig the cradles are swung outwardly as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 7 and 8 and rest on a air of temporary supports'S- laced under the cradles as shown in Fig. 4. he longerons L- are placed in the saddles and the cross members between the pins 52, the abutting ends are then secured tother by spot welding, the above operation orming the sides of the fuselage frame.

The cradles are then swung inwardly to the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6 and are then adapted to be retained in this position by pins 53 inserted through ali ned apertures formed in the plates 20' an 22, the channels 28 and the arms 40.

The cross members indicated at C forming the top and bottom portion of the fuselage, are next placed on the members 23 and 28 respectivel between the longerons, the pins 52 hol ing these cross members in proper position. The abutting ends of the cross members are then secured to the longeron preferably by welding, thus completing the fuselage frame.

While the cross members forming the top and bottom portions are being joined to the longerons or thereafter, the jig may be rotated about the axis of the shafts 16 to facilitate the above operation, or to inspect the parts thus assembled. The plates 20 and 22 are normally held against rotation by re movable pins 54 extending through aligned openings in the standards 14 and said plates.

By turning the saddles to either of the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10, then swinging the cradles outwardly and raising top members 28 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the completed fuselage frame may be removed from the jig.

- I claim:

1. A fuselage jig comprising a base, a pair of plates, connected to said base a pair of cradles ivotally connected to said plates, a pair of orizontally disposed members between said plates, said cradles having means adapted to position the members forming the side portions of a fuselage frame said horizontal members having means for positioning the members forming the top and ottom portions of the fuselage frame, said cradles adapted to swing inwardly so that the portions of the frame formed therein may be joined to the members forming the top and bottom portions, and means for pivotally connectin saidplates to said base whereby said crad es, horizontal members and plates may be rotated in unison to facilitate inspection and joining of the members forming the fuselage frame by welding operation.

2. A fuselage jig comprising a pair of oppositely disposed plates, a pair of cradles pivotally connected to said plates, means carried by said cradles for receiving and positioning the longerons and cross members forming the side portions of a fuselage frame, a pair of horizontal members disposed between said plates and connected thereto, and means carried by said pair of horizontal members for positioning the cross pieces formin the top and bottom portions of a fusela e rame. I

3. A jig or forming an aeroplane fuselage frame comprising a base, standards secured to each end of said base, a plate connected to each of said standards a pair of cradles pivotally connected to sai plates, upper and lower members disposed between and connected to said plates, said cradles adapted to receive and position the longerons and cross ieces forming the side portions of the uselage frame, whereby the same'may be joined together, said upper and lower members adapted to receive and position the cross pieces employed in forming the top and bottom portions respectively of the fuselage frame, said cradles adapted to be swung inwardly after the longerons and side pieces forming the side portion of the frame are joined together, whereby the longerons of the portions thus formed may be joined to the cross pieces forming the top and bottom portions of the fuselage frame.

4. A fuselage jig comprising a pair of oppositely disposed plates, a pair of cradles pivotally connected to said plates, said cradles having projections formed thereon adapted to position the cross members forming the side portions of a. fuselage frame, a pair of horizontal members disposed between said plates and connected thereto having projections formed thereon adapted to position the cross pieces forming .he top and bottom of a fuselage frame, and means carried by said cradles for holding the longerons, Whereby the same may be joined to said cross pieces.

5. A fuselage jig comprising a pair of vertically disposed plates, a pair of cradles pivotally connected to said plates, a pair of horizontally disposed members connected at each end thereof to said plates, a plurality of saddles pivotally connected to the sides of said cradles adapted to receive the longerons employed in forming a fuselage frame, and a plurality of pins projecting fromsaid cradles between which the cross pieces adapted to be joined to the longerons are placed when forming side portions of a fuselage frame, said cradles adapted to be swung inwardly after the longerons and side pieces forming the side portionof the frame are joined together, whereby the longerons of portions thus formed may be joined to the cross pieces forming the top and bottom portions of the fuselage frame.

6. A fuselage jig comprising a base, a standard secured to each end of said base, a pair of plates, mea-ns'for pivotally connecting said plates to said standards, a pair of cradles pivotally connected to said plates, an

upper member disposed between said plates, a hinge secured to one end of said upper member and connected to one of said plates, a

' plurality of saddles secured to said cradles adapted to receive and position the longerons employed in forming the side portions of the fuselage frame, a lower member disposed between and connected to said plates, and a plurality of pins-projecting from said cradles between which the cross pieces adapted to be joined to the longerons are placed when forming side portions of a fuselage frame, said cradles adapted to be swung inwardly after the longerons and side pieces forming the side portion of the frame are joined together, whereby the longerons of. portions thus formed may be'joined to the cross pieces forming the top and bottom portions of the fuselage frame, said cradles adapted to be swung outwardly and said upper member raised when removing the completed fuselage from the ji' 7. In a uselage jig, a pair of cradles, a plurality of saddles pivotally connected to said cradles, each of said saddles having a I recess formed therein adapted to receive the longerons of a fuselage frame and hold the same in spaced relation to the sides of said cradles, and a plurality of pins projecting from the face of said. cradles between which the cross pieces employed in forming the fuselage are adapted to be mounted and secured to the longerons.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOEL DANNER BUNCH. 

